Comments on: Service Response Discussion: Business & Career Information http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-business-career-information.html Official Blog of the Public Library Association Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:41:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Cheri Remington http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-business-career-information.html/comment-page-1#comment-656 Cheri Remington Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:09:04 +0000 http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-business-career-information.html#comment-656 These two topics serve two different groups. Patrons who are looking for career information are often students, and sometimes displaced workers looking for employment. Business has a connotation of financial information or information about corporations or investigation into business plans, grants, etc. It would make sense to divide this into two separate focus groups. These two topics serve two different groups. Patrons who are looking for career information are often students, and sometimes displaced workers looking for employment. Business has a connotation of financial information or information about corporations or investigation into business plans, grants, etc. It would make sense to divide this into two separate focus groups.

]]> By: PLA Blog » Blog Archive » PLA Service Responses discussion summary, plus deadline extended http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-business-career-information.html/comment-page-1#comment-584 PLA Blog » Blog Archive » PLA Service Responses discussion summary, plus deadline extended Fri, 20 Oct 2006 19:26:34 +0000 http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-business-career-information.html#comment-584 [...] Business and Career Information (2 comments) [...] [...] Business and Career Information (2 comments) [...]

]]> By: rochelle http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-business-career-information.html/comment-page-1#comment-566 rochelle Tue, 17 Oct 2006 17:59:59 +0000 http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-business-career-information.html#comment-566 I don't see Careers and Business as aligned at all. Careers seems to be more of a lifelong learning sort of thing and includes more than just the ability to explore career options, but includes using technology to look and apply for jobs. I'm also not sure about the word "Career." So many of the people we see are entry level service workers who struggle to fill out online applications. When I think of a career, I don't think of "stock boy at WalMart" or day labor or burger flipper. Employment Support? I don’t see Careers and Business as aligned at all. Careers seems to be more of a lifelong learning sort of thing and includes more than just the ability to explore career options, but includes using technology to look and apply for jobs. I’m also not sure about the word “Career.” So many of the people we see are entry level service workers who struggle to fill out online applications. When I think of a career, I don’t think of “stock boy at WalMart” or day labor or burger flipper. Employment Support?

]]> By: Pam Blittersdorf http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-business-career-information.html/comment-page-1#comment-541 Pam Blittersdorf Wed, 11 Oct 2006 17:11:53 +0000 http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-business-career-information.html#comment-541 In my library, this service falls into two distinct camps. The Business Services patrons usually come in with a clearly defined need for a particular set of information. Assembling that information may be a challenge to the library staff, but there is little call to guide the patron to an understanding of what the information signifies. Patrons who are seeking career information are often uncertain about what they are doing. In my experience, these are people who have been out of the job market for a while and don't know how to incorporate online avenues or digital techniques into their job search. When I assist career info patrons, it involves teaching and guidance, as well as the delivery of actually of information. So, there are two skill sets at work here. It may be time to consider divorcing business information service from career information service. In my library, this service falls into two distinct camps. The Business Services patrons usually come in with a clearly defined need for a particular set of information. Assembling that information may be a challenge to the library staff, but there is little call to guide the patron to an understanding of what the information signifies.

Patrons who are seeking career information are often uncertain about what they are doing. In my experience, these are people who have been out of the job market for a while and don’t know how to incorporate online avenues or digital techniques into their job search. When I assist career info patrons, it involves teaching and guidance, as well as the delivery of actually of information.

So, there are two skill sets at work here. It may be time to consider divorcing business information service from career information service.

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